Sotho Verbs - Verbal Derivatives

Verbal Derivatives

Various derivatives may (recursively) be formed from verbs by means of several suffixes (called "extensions"). Each derived verb is as much an authentic verb as the original.

In the following sections, "polysyllabic" generally means "of more than two syllables."

Verbs are derived primarily through suffixes, some of which are no longer active ("dead").

Verb derivations using the root -qet-
Type Suffix Valency
change
Example Meaning
Simple -a
0
-qeta finish
Passive -wa
–1
-qetwa be finished
-uwa -qetuwa
Neutro-active -ahala
intr.
-qetahala finishable
Neutro-passive -eha
intr.
-qeteha finishable
Applied -ela
+1
-qetela finished for
Causative -isa
+1
-qetisa cause to finish
Intensive -isisa
0
-qetisisa finish intensely
Perfective -ella
0
-qetella finish completely
Reciprocal -ana
–1
-qetana finish each other
Associative -ahana
–1
-qetahana (be finished together)
Reversive -olla
0
-qetolla unfinish
Augmentative -olla
0
-qetolla (finish extensively)
Extensive -aka
0
-qetaka (finish repeatedly and extensively)
Diminutive (see text)
0
-qeta-qeta finish a little
Positional (dead) -ama
0
(-tsorama) (squat)
Stative extensive (dead) -ala
0
(-robala) (sleep)
Contactive (dead) -ara
0
(-fupara) (clench the hand)

Read more about this topic:  Sotho Verbs

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